‘Difference Makers: Life Lessons With Paterno and Krzyzewski’ Airs Thursday on ESPN & ESPNU

The unique discussion featuring Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and several of their former student-athletes is set to air on Thursday on ESPN and ESNPU.

“Difference Makers: Life Lessons with Paterno and Krzyzewski” was taped June 20 in front of an enthusiastic audience of 900 in Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium. The program will air at 8 p.m. Thursday on ESPN and continue at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.

Paterno and Krzyzewski joined host Rece Davis of ESPN in discussing of variety of subjects, including leadership, teaching, values, the impact of family and rules changes they would be like to see implemented.

The Hall of Fame coaches, who have combined to win and 1,301 contests and six national championships, also took questions from the audience and from Duke students on the Durham, N.C., campus via Cisco Telepresence technology.

A quartet of former standout Penn State and Duke student-athletes also participated in the special event to talk about the impact Paterno and Krzyzewski have had on them as students and after graduation. Former Nittany Lions Matt Millen and Michael Robinson and former Blue Devils Jay Bilas and Jay Willliams also took questions from Penn State and Duke students.

In his 46th season as Penn State’s head coach and 62nd year on the coaching staff, Paterno is the all-time leader in Football Bowl Subdivision victories (401), bowl wins (24) and appearances (37). He has guided Penn State to National Championships in 1982 and 1986, five undefeated seasons and three Big Ten Championships. Paterno was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2007 and has been selected AFCA National Coach of the Year an unprecedented five times.

Entering his 32nd season as Duke’s head coach and 37th overall as a head coach, Krzyzewski is just three victories shy of becoming the all-time NCAA Division I leader. He has a 900-284 overall record and has led the Blue Devils to NCAA Championships in 1991, 1992, 2001 and 2010, as well as 11 NCAA Final Fours and 12 ACC regular season championships. Named National Coach of the Year during eight seasons, Krzyzewski led the United States to the gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2010 World Championships. He was inducted into the Naismith Memoral Hall of Fame in 2001.

Earlier coverage

• Paterno, Krzyzewski Reflect on Family, Leadership at ESPN Taping Event (June 21, 2011)